In recent times, we’ve seen many airlines announce plans to introduce Starlink Wi-Fi. However, this might be the most exciting and overdue Starlink announcement yet…
In this post:
Emirates rolling out free Starlink Wi-Fi fleetwide by mid-2027
Emirates has signed an agreement with SpaceX, to introduce Starlink Wi-Fi throughout its fleet. Starlink Wi-Fi will be free, and travelers will be able to connect with one click on all their devices, including laptops, tablets, and smartphones. You won’t even have to be an Emirates Skywards member to use the service.
What’s perhaps most impressive about this announcement is the pace at which Emirates is rolling out upgraded Wi-Fi service. The plan is for the entire fleet to have Starlink Wi-Fi by mid-2027, with 14 planes being fitted with the service per month.
Even more impressive is that the first Boeing 777 (with the registration code A6-EPF) has already had Starlink installed, and it will be flying as of November 23, 2025, so that’s less than a week from now. Airbus A380s are expected to get Starlink Wi-Fi as of February 2026.
Starlink is known for its high-speed, low-latency broadband internet, and the service will be offered gate to gate. Starlink Wi-Fi will allow for live streaming, productivity similar to on the ground (with high upload and download speeds), gaming, e-commerce, and more. Emirates will also allow passengers to make calls with the service, which is always a bit controversial.
Starlink is becoming increasingly popular with airlines. So far we’ve seen carriers like airBaltic, Air France, Air New Zealand, British Airways, Hawaiian Airlines, Iberia, Qatar Airways, SAS, United, Virgin Atlantic, and WestJet, all announce plans to install the service.
Here’s how Emirates President Tim Clark describes this development (which has some interesting shade in there regarding consistency at other airlines):
“Partnering with Starlink is another defining moment in our continuous commitment to ensuring our customers ‘fly better’. We’re introducing the world’s fastest Wi-Fi, elevating what passengers can expect from inflight connectivity, like seamless productivity, real-time communication with loved ones, and uninterrupted connection to their digital lives. But that’s just one piece of the transformation happening across our fleet.
“Starlink is being installed in tandem with the most ambitious cabin refurbishment programme in aviation including brand new Premium Economy cabins, an enhanced Business Class, refreshed First Class, expanded and upgraded entertainment system technologies, and now, industry-leading connectivity.”
“Emirates’ philosophy is simple but powerful: we strive to deliver consistency. While others peddle a confusing mix of products across a varied fleet, we want all our customers to be able to enjoy Emirates’ best products and not only on certain routes or aircraft types. That’s why we’re investing so heavily in our retrofit programme.
“The most advanced connectivity, exceptional cabins, extensive entertainment, and world-class service from our talented Cabin Crew – all of these elements reflect our substantial investment and commitment to raising the bar on what air travel should be.”
This is a massively overdue development for Emirates
Of course it’s great to see airlines introducing free high speed Wi-Fi in general. However, I don’t think there’s an airline that was more desperately in need of a Wi-Fi upgrade than Emirates. The Dubai-based carrier has historically used OnAir for connectivity, which is excruciatingly slow, and feels about two decades past its prime.
If you actually need to get any work done, Wi-Fi on the A380s and 777s is basically unusable, aside from basic texting.
So while we’re seeing lots of airlines upgrade to Starlink Wi-Fi, these are largely airlines that previously had Intelsat, Panasonic, Viasat, etc. Going from OnAir to Starlink is like going from Ryanair economy to Emirates first class.
This will be a massive boost to Emirates’ passenger experience, and it’s also fantastic how quickly the airline will be rolling out this service. In a little over 18 months, we should find this available on virtually all aircraft.
Bottom line
Emirates is the latest airline to introduce free Starlink Wi-Fi. The airline plans to install this on around 14 planes per month, with 777 retrofits starting right away, and Airbus A380 retrofits starting as of February 2026.
While Emirates is hardly the first airline to introduce Starlink Wi-Fi, it’s the airline that has been most in need of this announcement, given the awful performance of the carrier’s OnAir connectivity. What a boost to the passenger experience!
What do you make of Emirates introducing Starlink?
"Starlink is becoming increasingly popular with airlines. So far we’ve seen carriers like airBaltic, Air France, Air New Zealand, British Airways, Hawaiian Airlines, Iberia, Qatar Airways, SAS, United, Virgin Atlantic, and WestJet, all announce plans to install the service."
Starlink users enjoy far superior speeds, stability, reliability and lower latency (delay) due to arrays of low earth orbit (closer) satellites that enable gaming, streaming, and video calls that are rough or impractical on other providers...
"Starlink is becoming increasingly popular with airlines. So far we’ve seen carriers like airBaltic, Air France, Air New Zealand, British Airways, Hawaiian Airlines, Iberia, Qatar Airways, SAS, United, Virgin Atlantic, and WestJet, all announce plans to install the service."
Starlink users enjoy far superior speeds, stability, reliability and lower latency (delay) due to arrays of low earth orbit (closer) satellites that enable gaming, streaming, and video calls that are rough or impractical on other providers like ViaSat that also has huge holes in its coverage. Starlink is a game-changer.
Starlink installs in four days v 10 and weighs 85 v 300 pounds with more streamlined antennae. More reliable with weather proof laser switching between more numerous and optimal satellites.
Faster install, means less down time: We will be taking each plane out of service for four days to de-install existing equipment, install Starlink, run tests and close-up the aircraft parts opened during the install, versus an average 10 or more days for other inflight providers.
Streamlined equipment: The entire Starlink installation kit weighs 85 pounds, compared to other inflight provider kits that can weigh up to 300 pounds. Starlink is also electronically steered with no moving parts, making it easier to transport and install and requiring less maintenance.
Simpler install: Streamlined equipment means a simpler install. Once an aircraft is taken out of service for the install, the existing Wi-Fi is uninstalled. Then the Starlink equipment is installed, including an internal reinforcement structure, external antenna and main cabin wireless access points and power supply. Finally, the team runs system checks before closing the interior.
More fuel-efficient: Starlink’s 85-pound footprint on the aircraft means the aircraft requires less fuel to operate than other inflight providers.
Weather-proofed: Weather on the ground doesn’t hinder connectivity thanks to a weather-proofed laser link between satellites and the aircraft.
More reliable: Starlink-equipped aircraft will constantly switch between Starlink’s low-earth orbit constellation of satellites to ensure the best, most reliable Wi-Fi onboard.
Starlink access will allow game-changing inflight entertainment experiences like streaming services, shopping, gaming and more.
I still dont get, why everyone wants free Internet onboard. I mean, most people spend way to much time online (especially sozial Media) and now there is going to be free internet at one of the last places where people where used to be offline and could detox a bit.
For Business People who have to work its a different story, but for leisure travel it's a bad thing.
Not having Starlink is becoming a significant competitive disadvantage for airlines especially those with premium service.
All for it - but if general human civility is anything to go by, there will be a large amount of pax that will use this to watch their brainrot content without earphones and make calls on loudspeakers.
Would be very supportive of EK policing this in a major way to maintain cabin vibes.
I’ve always wondered how Starlink is free on pretty much every airline that offers it. Prior to Starlink, airlines were charging fees that ranged from affordable to exorbitant.
As usual, CX is nowhere to be seen in all this...
It’s only now that Starlink is starting to get popular with airlines based outside North America and Europe, other than QR, of course. It’s surprising that Asian airlines have largely ignored Starlink, possibly due to its coverage issues over China. Perhaps that’s why most operators include Western airlines like AF, UA, SK, BT and now BA and IB — with QR being the only non-Western airline:
I expect that SQ will also launch Starlink in...
It’s only now that Starlink is starting to get popular with airlines based outside North America and Europe, other than QR, of course. It’s surprising that Asian airlines have largely ignored Starlink, possibly due to its coverage issues over China. Perhaps that’s why most operators include Western airlines like AF, UA, SK, BT and now BA and IB — with QR being the only non-Western airline:
I expect that SQ will also launch Starlink in the coming months, thanks to a recent finding on Singaporean aviation/miles blog The MileLion.
When flying KLM to and from China in the past (6+ years ago) they always told me wifi needed to be kept turned off in Chinese airspace, did this change?
Tim Clark gently poked Qatar Airways on the press release when he says Emirates is looking for consistency offering the same experience throughout the whole fleet while others offer a confusing mix of products across a varied fleet.
If Akber Al Baker was still the CEO of Qatar Airways he would have responded to Sir Tim Clark's statement. After all ex-CEO of QR was a Karen who was outspoken.
It's a bit rich on behalf of Emirates to claim they pride themselves to have a young fleet with a young product when you consider they are one of the last premium airline to offer business class in 2-3-2 on the majority of their fleet.
Does that order mean anything for the A350 rumour ?
The number of planes at Emirates will grow by at least 30-40% with this 77x order plus residual...
It's a bit rich on behalf of Emirates to claim they pride themselves to have a young fleet with a young product when you consider they are one of the last premium airline to offer business class in 2-3-2 on the majority of their fleet.
Does that order mean anything for the A350 rumour ?
The number of planes at Emirates will grow by at least 30-40% with this 77x order plus residual 359 to deliver and the potential 35X order.
Are we looking at a move to DWC from DXB before the end of the decade ??
Did you hear that Singapore Airlines will also be adding a “low earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet”?
Other companies exist (namely Panasonic OneWeb). Curious they omitted the name of the service
I wonder if Emirates will pay to use their wifi over India, or just shut it off like Qatar and Singapore do?
I love the idea for productivity or entertainment but not so much for when someone decides to Facetime without headphones on mid flight when most people are asleep!
It's great news. One thing I cannot believe is why all airlines are not going to satellite wifi. It's cost benefit to customer appreciation is huge. Give me satellite wifi over in-flight entertainment any day.
@Ben - I'm just curious, are you up way past your bedtime or did you just wake up? (Assuming you are home right now)
I haven't even gone to bed yet (I live in FL as well).
@ JB -- Hah, that's an excellent question! I'm not home anymore, so stay tuned! :p
“Each click feeds a feedback loop: the more provoked we feel, the longer we stay, the more data we generate, and the more advertising revenue platforms earn. It's the 21st-century evolution of emotional marketing, only now our attention is the product being sold, and our indignation the fuel that keeps the system profitable”.